Umbilical hernia repair with composite prosthesis: a single-centre experience

The impact of smoking on ventral and inguinal hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Individual studies indicate poorer outcomes for smokers after hernia repair. Previous meta-analyses have examined the impact of smoking on specific outcomes such as recurrence and surgical site infection, but there has been a lack of comprehensive consensus or systematic review on this subject. Addressing this gap, our study undertakes a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of smoking on the outcomes of ventral hernia repair (VHR) and inguinal hernia repair.

SOURCE

A thorough search of Cochrane Central, Scopus, SciELO, and PubMed/MEDLINE, focusing on studies that examined the effect of smoking on inguinal and VHR outcomes was conducted. Key outcomes evaluated included recurrence, reoperation, surgical site occurrences (SSO), surgical site infection (SSI), and seroma.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Out of 3296 screened studies, 42 met the inclusion criteria. These comprised 25 studies (69,295 patients) on VHR and 17 studies (204,337 patients) on inguinal hernia repair. The analysis revealed that smokers had significantly higher rates of recurrence (10.4% vs. 9.1%; RR 1.48; 95% CI [1.15; 1.90]; P < 0.01), SSO (13.6% vs. 12.7%; RR 1.44; 95% CI [1.12; 1.86]; P < 0.01) and SSI (6.6% vs. 4.2%; RR 1.64; 95% CI [1.38; 1.94]; P < 0.01) following VHR. Additionally, smokers undergoing inguinal hernia repair showed higher recurrence (9% vs. 8.7%; RR 1.91; 95% CI [1.21; 3.01]; P < 0.01), SSI (0.6% vs. 0.3%; RR 1.6; 95% CI [1.21; 2.0]; P < 0.001), and chronic pain (9.9% vs. 10%; RR 1.24; 95% CI [1.06; 1.45]; P < 0.01) rates. No significant differences were observed in seroma (RR 2.63; 95% CI [0.88; 7.91]; P = 0.084) and reoperation rates (RR 1.48; 95% CI [0.77; 2.85]; P = 0.236) for VHR, and in reoperation rates (RR 0.99; 95% CI [0.51; 1.91]; P = 0.978) for inguinal hernias between smokers and non-smokers. Analysis using funnel plots and Egger's test showed the absence of publication bias in the study outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive meta-analysis found statistically significant increases in recurrence rates, and immediate postoperative complications, such as SSO and SSI following inguinal and VHR. Also, our subgroup analysis suggests that the MIS approach seems to be protective of adverse outcomes in the smokers group. However, our findings suggest that these findings are not of clinical relevance, so our data do not support the necessity of smoking cessation before hernia surgery. More studies are needed to elucidate the specific consequences of smoking in both inguinal and ventral hernia repair.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

ID CRD42024517640.

Primary Uncomplicated Ventral Hernia Repair: Guidelines and Practice Patterns for Routine Hernia Repairs

Surgical repair of primary umbilical and epigastric hernias are among the most common abdominal operations in the world. The hernia defects range from small (<1 cm) to large and complex even in the absence of prior incision or repair. Mesh has generally been shown to decrease recurrence rates, and its use and location of placement should be individualized for each patient. Open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches provide unique considerations for the technical aspects of primary repair with or without mesh augmentation.

Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch for primary and incisional hernia repair

BACKGROUNDS

Ventral hernia repair with a preformed device is a frequent intervention, but few reports exist with Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch. The aim was to evaluate the results of this mesh with the open intraperitoneal onlay mesh (open IPOM) technique.

METHODS

Observational retrospective single institution study of all consecutive patients intervened for ventral or incisional hernia with a diameter inferior to 4 cm, from January 2013 to June 2020. The surgical repair was performed according to the open IPOM technique with Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients were intervened: 61.6% with umbilical hernias, 8.2% with epigastric hernias, 26.7% with trocar incisional hernias, and 3.4% with other incisional hernias. The global recurrence rate was 7.5% (11/146). Specifically, it was 7.8% in umbilical hernias, 0% in epigastric hernias, 7.7% in trocar incisional hernias and 20% (1/5) in other incisional hernias. The median time for recurrence was 14 months (IQR: 4.4-18.7). The median indirect follow-up was 36.9 months (IQR: 27.2-49.6), and the median presential follow-up was 17.4 months (IQR: 6.5-27.3).

CONCLUSION

The open IPOM technique with a preformed patch offered satisfactory results for the treatment of ventral and incisional hernias.

Ventralex™ ST Hernia Patch Repair for Small Umbilical Hernia is Safe and Effective: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Hernia patches for umbilical hernia repair have gained popularity due to their short operation time and ease of use. However, up to 10% re-operation and 8% recurrence rates at 2-year follow-up have been published. This retrospective cohort study presents the long-term results of the hernia patch technique for umbilical hernia repair. Methods: All adult patients who underwent a primary umbilical hernia repair at Oulu University Hospital hernia surgery units during 2014-2018 were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was recurrence rate. Secondary outcomes were complications and re-operation rate. Results: A total of 619 elective primary umbilical hernia repairs were performed during 2014-2018. The major technique used was Ventralex™ ST hernia patch repair (79.0%, 488/619) for small hernias with a mean width of 1.8 (SD 0.79) cm. Most of the patches (84.7%, 414/488) were placed in the preperitoneal space. Hernia recurrence rate of patient operated on using Ventralex™ ST hernia patch was 2.5% (12/488) during a mean follow-up time of 68 (SD 16, 43-98) months. Re-operation rate for another reason than recurrence was 1.6% (8/488). Clavien-Dindo complications ≥3 occurred in 4.1% (20/488) of cases and surgical site infection rate was 3.3% (16/488). Conclusion: Umbilical hernia repair using a Ventralex™ ST hernia patch placed in preperitoneal space have acceptable results in terms of recurrence and re-operations in this cohort study.

Effect of Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Umbilical Hernia Repair on Incision Infection, Complication Rate, and Recurrence Rate in Patients with Umbilical Hernia

The aim of this study is to clarify the influence of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal umbilical hernia repair on incision infection, complication rate, and recurrence rate in patients with an umbilical hernia (UH). Sixty-seven UH patients referred to our hospital from June 2017 to June 2019 were selected as the research participants. Thirty-six patients in the research group (RG) were treated with laparoscopic total extraperitoneal umbilical hernia repair, and the other 31 cases in the control group (CG) were treated with traditional umbilical hernia repair. The two cohorts of patients were compared with respect to the curative effect after treatment; intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain time, ambulation time, and hospital stay; incidence of complications; pain severity (VAS) before and after operation; sleep quality (PSQI) before and after operation; patient satisfaction after treatment; and recurrence half a year after discharge. The RG presented a higher effective treatment rate (P < 0.05), less intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain time, ambulation time, and hospital stay, as well as lower incidence of complications than the CG (P < 0.05). VAS and PSQI scores differed insignificantly between the two cohorts of patients before treatment (P > 0.05) but reduced after treatment, with lower VAS and PSQI scores in the RG than in the CG (P < 0.05). The number of people who were highly satisfied, as investigated by the satisfaction survey, was higher in the RG than in the CG, while the recurrence rate of prognosis was lower than that in the CG (P < 0.05). Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal umbilical hernia repair is effective for UH patients and can validly reduce the incidence of complications and recurrence rate, which has huge clinical application value.

Umbilical Hernia Repair in Cirrhotic Patients With Ascites: A Systemic Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Umbilical hernia is a common abdominal complication in cirrhotic patients. The incidence of umbilical hernias can be up to 20% in the presence of ascites. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management of umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients. The purpose of this study is to review the management of umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

METHODS

A search of the available literature in English since 1980 was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and a search of relevant journals and reference lists. The search terms included "umbilical hernia," "ascites," "cirrhosis," and any derivatives of these terms, and the literature search identified all the relevant publications.

RESULTS

Thirty-three relevant articles published in the language of English were identified. Fourteen studies involved the management of refractory ascites in cirrhotic patients. Twenty-four studies included cirrhotic patients receiving elective or emergency surgery. Because of much lower morbidity and mortality in elective surgery than in emergency surgery, many authors advocated early elective repair of uncomplicated umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients. Of these, 2 studies described laparoscopic umbilical hernioplasty, with a significant lower morbidity and hernia recurrence than open repair. Fifteen studies described the use of prosthetic mesh umbilical hernia repair in cirrhotic patients, which was associated with minimal wound-related morbidity and markedly lower recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that early elective repair of uncomplicated umbilical hernias is recommended in cirrhotic patients with tolerable hepatic functional reserve or when the expected time for liver transplantation is >3 months. Umbilical hernias are supposed to be corrected in the process of liver transplantation, provided that patients could have a better prospect to be transplanted within 3 months. Control of ascites is a crucial part to successful outcomes of umbilical hernia repair. Large volume paracentesis, concomitant peritoneovenous shunting with herniorrhaphy and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting can be applied to control refractory ascites. Emergency repair of umbilical hernias is indicated in cirrhotic patients with ascites when complications develop.

Is mesh always necessary in every small umbilical hernia repair? Comparison of standardized primary sutured versus patch repair: retrospective cohort study

Purpose

A retrospective analysis was carried out to compare the results of patch repair using ready-made, synthetic mesh (PR) and sutured repair (SR) based on standard protocols. The accumulated recurrence rate was accepted as the primary outcome. Pain at rest and during exercise, cosmetic effect and treatment satisfaction were chosen as the secondary endpoints.

Methods

Adult patients after elective, open surgical repair of a single, primary umbilical hernia < 2 cm in diameter were included. Patients with incarceration or strangulation, after previous umbilical hernia repair or other abdominal surgical interventions were excluded. In the SR group, single-layer sutures were placed using the short-stitch technique. In PR group, a 6.3-mm ready-made Parietene Ventral Patch (Medtronic) was used.

Results

161 patients (104 in PR and 57 in SR groups) were included in the study (22 months follow-up). Nine recurrences were observed [six in PR (5.8%) and three in SR group (5.2%)]. In PR group, three patients (2.9%) reported complaints at rest and none in SR group, while 18 patients (17.3%) in PR group reported pain during exercises and 7 (12.3%) in SR group.

Conclusion

For the smallest umbilical hernias, the use of dense fascia suturing (short-stitch technique) may be an effective alternative to patch repair techniques in patients with no additional risk factors for recurrence. The mesh patch repair method is associated with a significantly higher risk of postsurgical pain. Diastasis recti is a factor favoring umbilical hernia recurrence after both pure tissue repair and patch repair.

Guidelines for treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias from the European Hernia Society and Americas Hernia Society

BACKGROUND

Umbilical and epigastric hernia repairs are frequently performed surgical procedures with an expected low complication rate. Nevertheless, the optimal method of repair with best short- and long-term outcomes remains debatable. The aim was to develop guidelines for the treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias.

METHODS

The guideline group consisted of surgeons from Europe and North America including members from the European Hernia Society and the Americas Hernia Society. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) critical appraisal checklists, and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument were used. A systematic literature search was done on 1 May 2018, and updated on 1 February 2019.

RESULTS

Literature reporting specifically on umbilical and epigastric hernias was limited in quantity and quality, resulting in a majority of the recommendations being graded as weak, based on low-quality evidence. The main recommendation was to use mesh for repair of umbilical and epigastric hernias to reduce the recurrence rate. Most umbilical and epigastric hernias may be repaired by an open approach with a preperitoneal flat mesh. A laparoscopic approach may be considered if the hernia defect is large, or if the patient has an increased risk of wound morbidity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first European and American guideline on the treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias. It is recommended that symptomatic umbilical and epigastric hernias are repaired by an open approach with a preperitoneal flat mesh.